Thursday, November 29, 2012

"There has been considerable debate over who “won” the recent fighting in and
around Gaza, though the question itself might lack relevancy as both sides have
largely returned to the status quo ante. Hamas has indeed proven itself
capable of resisting Israel and has gained the respect of its Arab neighbors
while its political opponent Fatah has again looked weak and vacillating. That
many of the frequently homemade Gazan rockets were able to penetrate Israeli
defenses and even strike near Tel Aviv is also being promoted by some as a game
changer, but in reality the actual impact was more psychological than lethal.
Israel blinked because it had become clear that there were no real military
targets remaining in Gaza and only civilians, many of them children, were being
killed. Continuing the air assault or initiating a ground invasion would only
lead to a major public relations victory for the Palestinians in the court of
world opinion....."